Bad Reflux + other problems

[DerbyDave]

Hi guys,

Hope someone can help me. My problem has got to the point now I just feel like jumping off the next bridge I cross.

Over the past few years I've had a few problems with my stomach. At the start I started with a lump sensation in my throat, and then alsorts happened after, in which 10 or so months later I had a camera down my throat and been told I've got acid reflux. I was then put on 40 mg of Omeprazole and 4 lots of Peptec per day for 3 months. I suffered pretty bad side effects from this, blurred vision, bad headaches, so I at to lower my dosage. I'm now on 20mg and 2 lots of peptac per day. No problems with headaches, blurred version now.. However, I'm constipated, and my bowels are all over the place at the moment. I'm not sure if this is the medication or just more symptoms of whatever I may have.

I've come to the conclusion that the acid reflux could just be a part of my problem. I've never had a bad diet, can't stand spicy fooRAB etc. And rarely touch alcohol. Which confused my doctor as they told me one of these is why people get reflux.. Is this true?

Since the reflux, I'm having more problems. Some which are really making me very depressed, full of anxiety and tearful. Which is very unsual for me. In my adult life I've very rarely cried until the past months.. Is this another side effect from the medication, or part of my problem? Or maybe I'm just thinking negative and thinking the worse.

For the past 6 months I've had the following problems with my reflux.

Breathlessness.
Sometimes confused.
Very sharp pains in the right side of my stomach.
Weight loss.
Sharp pains in right of my head
Red dots appearing on my face.
Chest pain on both left and right hand side.
Flutter in my heart. Irregular heart beat??
Feel the cold pretty easily(unusual for me)

And now last week when shaving I felt a small lump on the side of my neck to the left. I thought it was a spot at first until I shaved yesterday and it was still there. I had a feel and its a small pea sized lump. It is painful and I'm starting to feel very sharp pains in the left of my neck. Also, since this lump, I've been feeling very tried and just wanting to fall a sleep. I'm also feeling very emotional. Not sure if this is just down to all the problems I'm having.

The doctor knows most of the problems but it just seems like I'm talking to myself when I visit them. I tell them and they just go, yea, yea, yea to every problem I'm having and they just smile and move on.

They have booked me up to have a breath test as they think I may have a bug or something in my stomach which is causing all of this.. However, it's just the months and months I'm waiting. And day after day I feel more weaker and confused, and they just fob it off.

They know nothing of the lump as I only realised it was still there yesterday. Shall I go back and tell them straight away, or wait a few more days and see if it goes? I just feel I'm a burden to them at the moment as the doctors seems to be my second home and don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Sorry for going on but I'm worried about it all now. I've always been an healthy, fit fella until all of this. I've also always had a very positive outlook on life, but the negativity is creeping in every day now. I'm starting to think something is seriously wrong with me. The internet doesn't help in some ways as everything I put I get the big C word looking back at me.

Thanks for reading.

 

[gjshell]

Your right-sided stomach discomfort sounRAB like gall-bladder or liver. Have you had liver function tests done? Of course you should tell the doctor about the painful pea-sized nodule in your neck. SounRAB like some anxiety,too.

 

[marigoldgirl81]

i can 100% relate to you...i've been crying all day today. This is devastating my life and i am so fearful after 4 months of esopahgitis and constant reflux there is nothing i can do, and i'm going to get barrets or cancer.....listen to my negativity...this thing has me beaten to the ground. I can hardly eat, lost 20 lbs since Jun"ish", my GALLBLADDER started hurting a few weeks ago, i didn't even know where my flippin gallbladder was.. very badly may i add, no stones, they don't know why..sludge?, need some expensive test to find out where they put radioactive dye in me (hida) and honest to god i have been poked and prodded so much this year that i don't want it right now and this has financially drained my husband and i:confused. Since i am besides myself i have sought out chinese medicine and acupuncture recently with some huge success in my gallbladder pain area but not in my throat yet....i feel like i am torn between these two medical worlRAB and i'm just not buying this concept that my ibs, gerd or lpr whatever, migraines, gallbladder problem are seperate...they have to be connected and my dr just shrugs his shoulders and tells me to watch my stress, stay on my meRAB and get another test to see what size my esophagus is...i am besides myself....i understand you....i am hopeful but i need some energy b/c the light is dim tonight but i know it has to shine bright again.

 

[Gabby66]

Derbydave I feel for you. I think that what you describe may be from side-effects of your meRAB, especially the breathlessness, chest pains and palpitations. I was put on heaps of different ones and some of the side-effects like you mention to all of them, but I'm allergic to quite a few things. It could be that the Omeprazole isn't quite for you when something else may work better. A lot of these meRAB can cause feelings of depression. I was given 6-8 different ones, and it was a side-effect common to most of them. Having many allergies, I read every word of the information sheets that people should be given, when given any medication, especially for the first time. I at least think it should be something that you discuss with your doctor, and maybe ask if a change of meRAB may help. Insist if you feel you have to. Make sure the doctor is listening. I got red spots on my face too, and still have one that has never gone away. I don't have reflux at all, as it turns out, just a dodgy oesophagas. Please, see your doctor, especially about the lump. Putting it off and worrying about it isn't good for you and will only be adding to your other symptoms.

 

[katarina66]

My heart goes out to you Dave. I can sympathise with all of your problems, especially the doc going 'yeah, yeah' yeah.' I now have a very good doctor who listens to everything I say and acts on it. So maybe you should change. there's nothing worse than an uninterested doctor.
Guess It's one good thing about living in the UK that all medical expenses are paid for by the NH.
I delibrately stay away from big C symptoms on the net, but since i have lost five people in as many years to it, you can imagin it's not far from my mind.
My daughter had two lumps on her neck then another two on her groin. specialist thought it was muscular - had her back twice just to keep an eye on her. If the lump is painful it's unlikely to be anything nasty, but it really should be investigated.
Did you have your bowel looked at as well as your stomach? If not demand to have this done. Have you had scans for galbladder and a blood test for liver function? If everything is clear, then do join a meditation class. Stress can do dreadful things and the more you worry, the worse it gets. Let us know how you get on.

 

[painter207]

Your mind can acually put pain into different parts of your body if you stress about it long enough. The mind is a powerful thing. I've been there, so you have to stop the mind from running rampid. It will destroy you and then you have to get anti depressants to dig yourself out again. Usually the minute the Dr. says your fine after a test...away goes the pain.